Appointment of Kinoti, Mbugua as top police brass goes uncontested

Noor Gabow took over from Samuel Arachi at the Administration Police as the Deputy Inspector General/FILE

By JOSEPH MURAYA, NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 19 – The National Police Service Commission has until midnight to scrutinise submissions made by applicants for the position of Director of Directorate of the Criminal Investigations, Deputy Inspector General in charge of Kenya Police and Administration police.

The law gives 14 days, of these seats falling vacant, for the Commission to recommend a replacement to the President for appointment; a deadine that lapses Friday.

All the interviews were done on Thursday, with the commission chairperson Johnston Kavuludi saying they were above board.

“The law stipulates that within 14 days of the position of Deputy Inspector General or Director of Criminal Investigations falling vacant, the appointing authority, the President of the Republic of Kenya, shall on the recommendation of the commission appoint suitably qualified persons or person to fill the office,” he said.

There was no lady officer who applied for either of the available positions other than a lawyer Milka Murugi who did not qualify being a civilian.

“One needs to be a serving police officer. We have got serving female police officers, this is not just an appointive position, it is competitive… so far, unfortunately, no female candidate who is qualified signified interest in the position by submitting an application to the commission,” Kavuludi said during a briefing to journalists on Thursday evening.

Those interviewed are the Acting Director DCI George Kinoti who was the only person who was vetted for the position.

The Acting DIG in charge of Kenya Police Edward Njoroge Mbugua was the sole candidate as well with Acting AP boss Noor Gabow being interviewed alongside two other applicants: Vincent Mokokha and Musa Dhadho.